Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Don’t wait for the summer sun to get your fishing gear out again, you can make some great catches this winter!

Texas has year-round saltwater fishing and it’s very productive, even in the worst of weather.

While you can find the usual Texas fare of redfish, flounder and speckled trout, professional fishing guide and outdoor writer, Danno Wise suggests casting your line to make some other great catches.

Down here in the Rio Grande Valley is the only place in the continental United States outside of South Florida there’s a fishable population of snook year round. They’re sensitive to cold so they’re going to go into the deeper portions of our bay systems, but because the fish will be concentrated, we have excellent snook fishing during the winter time.

We also have a substantial amount of beachfront fishing which is kind of overlooked. Whiting, which is a simple kind of fish, and the pompano. Very tropical looking species; in Florida, they’re targeted very heavily. Fish such as those are plentiful and good eating, and if you want to target going out just to get out of the house, relax, and catch a few to take home to eat, those are excellent choices.

Winter fishing season usually lasts between early December through March. Just remember some warm clothes and a waterproof jacket for that ocean spray!

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Winter Fishing Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Start off January right by spending time with the Texas Parks and Wildlife television show. Producer, Abe Moore.

Some of the stories we’re covering in January include the Guadalupe Bass, and efforts to save our state fish. We’re also profiling some fun fishing stories, like on where to go fishing on both fresh water and saltwater, and some casting tips. And then, a story I did that’s going to air towards the end of January is on Buescher State Park, which is Southeast of Bastrop, near Smithville. It’s a nice little quiet park, kind of off the beaten path a little bit, and it’s really got a nice hiking trail down there.

Buescher SP has an 8-mile hiking trail that starts out in the Post oak woodland, which is an area that consists mostly of hardwood trees [bird call], and it makes a big loop and goes up into the Lost Pines ecosystem.

Now, there’s a park Road 1C that connects Bastrop SP with Buescher SP, and it’s a really cool little bike ride if you want to do some bike riding.

[bike gear sound] It’s about 12-miles long between the two parks. Therefore, if you make a round trip, you’ve got 24-miles that you’ve cycled. So it’s a very good workout—very intense.

So whether it’s hiking or biking, those are just some of the things you can do in at this hidden gem of a State park here in Texas.

Thanks Abe.

Find out where the show airs at passporttotexas.org.

That’s out show…for Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Bass and Buescher State Park Play Now | Play in Popup | Download